There is a lot of stress this holiday season, and it's hard not to be a little bit panicked. That being said, it's great to relax and have some time to unwind and watch some movies. In my case, I sit down and watch a good musical. For those of you wondering how to watch a musical this holiday season, here are 5 musicals (and movies that would inspire musicals, to cheat a little) to get you into a holly jolly holiday mood:
1. "White Christmas"
Whether or not you like snow or the cold is completely irrelevant when watching this classic musical starring Bing Crosby (you may know him for, uh, creating the song “White Christmas”), Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney (as in George Clooney’s aunt, if you’re looking for more reasons to watch) and Vera-Ellen as singers looking to help an old army friend of the two main men when his inn needs customers in a snow-less Vermont winter.
There is enough feel-good charm to make this a Christmas classic, but there is also a good amount of laughs and romance with gorgeous clothes and big dance numbers to make this a fun musical that has other feels beside Christmas.
(PS. This movie is on Netflix!)
2. "Miracle on 34th Street"
Before you get on my case about this not being a musical, you’re right...and wrong. The 1947 movie was just that, a movie, though in 1963 and up until now, there have been musical adaptations made that feature the songs in the soundtrack and the same storyline. The story of a Macy’s Santa Claus being the real Santa and fulfilling a little girl’s dreams are heartwarming and cheery, and those sweet moments will be perfect with a steaming cup of hot cocoa and a blanket.
3. "Elf" (Also another that has a movie version first, as I am sure we all know)
This musical adaption is the same lovely storyline we know featuring Buddy the Elf and his search for his father in New York City, but there are a few more ensemble elves and people Buddy interacts with. This version is still great, though there is a much better chance of you finding the original movie version, so I’ll let you go on that one.
4. "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
5. "Holiday Inn"
This is one of my personal new favorites, and the original movie musical with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire has met its equal in the 2016 musical version starring Bryce Pinkham and Corbin Bleu (he’s not in highschool anymore? What? I miss High School Musical) with lots of big dance numbers and a little trip through a year at a small inn run by a small-town teacher and an ex-Broadway star (and Corbin Bleu in a stellar dance role, and kind of a villainous one, though we let him get away with it due to our childhood nostalgia).
Let me know what movies and musicals put you in the holiday spirit, take a listen to these 5 excellent soundtracks, and happy holidays, everyone!
